Aluminium body preparing background paper

The Aluminium Association of India (AAI) is preparing a background paper on the aluminium industry, which will be submitted to policy makers and the ministry of mines.

"The thrust of the note is to increase the usage of aluminium in the country," AAI honorary general secretary, KSS Murthy, said adding that the association expects the government to consider its contents while formulating the national aluminium policy. AAI has appointed Avalon Consulting to prepare the note in consultation with all the stakeholders of the industry.

Founded in 1981, AAI is a 300-member organisation with membership extended to different sectors of the aluminium industry and supported by the ministry of mines.

According to Hindalco Industries executive president (marketing), Shashi K Maudgal, there will be nearly four-fold increase in the installed capacity of aluminium industry in the country over the next five years.

"From last one year till the next five years, the industry has lined up investments to the tune of Rs 100,000 crore for expanding its operations. Consequently, the installed capacity will go up from the existing 1.1 million tonnes per annum (tpa) to 4 million tpa in five years," he said.

AAI is hosting a three-day International Conference on Aluminium (Incal) 2007 here from Nov 21. Over 600 delegates from India and abroad are expected to take part. Incal 2007 is sponsored by Hindalco, Nalco and Vedanta and is supported by The Aluminium Association, USA, Australian Aluminium Council and the International Aluminium Institute, UK.